10 ways the KIC girls keep a week’s grocery shop under $50

Grocery shopping on a budget doesn’t have to mean tuna and rice seven days a week. In fact, with a few simple hacks up your sleeve it can be as delish and nutritious as you want it to be. With the exception of our weekend avo toast at our fave café, and our soy cap obsession, we usually keep our grocery shop to under $50, and assuming you have a staple stocked pantry (rice, flour etc), you can, too.

Whether a hefty phone bill has just arrived (yikes, you’ve gone over your data again), rent week is just around the corner, or juggling part time work with student life is sucking, knowing how to shop savvy is a very useful skill to have.

So for those of you who’d rather save up for a new Zara handbag instead of a new bag of quinoa, or put it toward a sunny vacay instead of a punnet of berries, here are our 10 hacks for grocery shopping like a pro:

1. Hit the markets

Let’s be honest, doing the groceries can be a real chore - kids running around, frantic shoppers, announcements over the speakers... just all round chaos. Our fave thing to do is hit up our local market on a Sunday morning. We always find a bargain (especially if it’s near closing time) and it’s actually enjoyable.

2. Join a meal plan

The easiest way to have more control over your grocery shop is to follow a meal plan that does all the thinking for you - that way, you don’t buy unnecessary ingredients. On our Keep it Cleaner (KIC) fitness program, we provide a delicious (and healthy) week of recipes so that breakfast, lunch and dinner are all sorted for our KIC girls. Meal plans are budget conscious (with a few repeat meals), flavour filled, and hassle free with plenty of variety. You can also swap out certain recipes to keep it even more budget-friendly. That means happy tummies and happy wallets.

3. Self-serve

Rather than going all out with a packet of bacon and a full block of feta, grab three slices from the deli and select the exact portion of cheese for your salad. Only need a handful of almonds? Hit up the self-serve section and grab exactly that. It’s a great way to prevent waste and only pay for what you need.

4. To the left (overs), to the left (overs)

‘Everything you cooked in a box in the fridge’... okay, enough beyonce. The point is, left overs are an awesome way to save on groceries. Only cooking dinner for one? Make it for two - even four. Think about it, you use up that whole bag of spinach instead off a quarter, and can even buy in bulk for a better price (hello super saver).

5. That avo is so ‘in’ right now

Cooking with in-season produce means you’re less likely to get ripped off. We’ve all been caught with a $3 banana in our basket, and dare we mention the $6 avo saga us Aussies dealt with last summer? Our advice, branch out your use of ingredients and keep it seasonal.

6. Make a list, check it twice

Having a grocery list means you’re less likely to go rogue at the supermarket (no, the snacks aisle didn’t just call your name). Lists are particularly useful as you know everything you’re gonna need for the week is in your pantry or fridge, which removes the temptation to pick and choose at the grocery store from the equation.

7. “But it was on sale!”

...So you’re practically making money, right? Wrong! Only get what you need and don’t be roped in by those flashy red swing tags.

8. Snacks on hand

Keeping a snack or two on hand helps you to avoid buying snacks on the run. Nibblies may not cost much, but they do add up. We always carry a bliss ball or protein bar in our bag, and usually have a stash of some fresh baked snacks from our KIC meal plan in the fridge.

9. Cook smart

One of our fave savvy saving tips is to cook with similar ingredients throughout the week. That way you’re reducing waste, and making fewer trips to your local shops - win, win.

10. Freeze it

A little waste is bound to happen, sure, but it doesn’t have to go in the bin. Avoid having to re-buy fresh herbs and veg because those organic zucchinis have gone from juicy to soggy, and a couple of old capsicums have just met their mouldy maker. Chuck ‘em in the freezer instead straight after use, and watch the numbers on your receipt go down.